Pilgrims
Dangers

During this time we did not follow the track that is usually passed by the hikers or other backpackers. We were also more often in the mountains or on the beach than in the cities.

It's been about three weeks since we started walking. We had gone down the coast to the south, then stopped by Rio de Janeiro to buy supplies.

After that we moved north. Now our location is around Manicor, a few hundred kilometers south of Manaus, the most visited place for tourists who want to see the Amazon.

Usually we were in the forest for about four to five days at the most, then we found a settlement, then entered the forest again. But this time we've been in the forest for about seven days and haven't found any settlements.

Our supplies are only enough for three more days. We started to hurry up a bit. But it was getting dark, and we started to set up tents again.

We can't really move too fast, because it tolerates Gabriel whose stamina runs out the fastest. During camping we usually practice new movements that are more difficult to do. We are now working to be more creative and attractive.

When really meeting the dense forest we began to combine capoeira with parkoer. Leon was happy to teach us a little about the basics. And the rest of us learn quickly. Except Gabriel of course.

I have gained a lot of new experiences. In the course of many tropical animals and insects I had never seen before. Because in Brazil there are many rivers, we also do not have trouble to get water to drink or clean ourselves.

Fruits are also different. Even so, we have to be careful because there are also many wild animals lurking. Fortunately, Leon's parkour lessons can sometimes be used in precarious situations.

***

Unlike usual, we did nothing tonight. Everyone was too sleepy to chat let alone practice. Although it wasn't too late yet, everyone went to their respective tents and slept. Except for me and Leon who were assigned by Fox to stand guard until two in the morning, while he and Gabriel will replace us.

I was also actually very sleepy, and I saw Leon also seemed to be as sleepy as me. I quickly brewed coffee for both of us before we completely collapsed. Seems pretty helpful. I'm not too sleepy right now.

Leon who was too sleepy to drink three cups of coffee now got his sap. He immediately went to pee.

I just thought Leon fell asleep in the woods because he hadn't been back in a long time. But then he emerged from the darkness with a confused face, and then he spoke to me. “I saw the light there,” he said as he pointed into the forest where he had been.

“It looks like a flashlight, but I'm not too sure. Do we need to check it out or do we wake up Fox first?” tanyanya asked my opinion.

“Maybe there's another hiker in this forest. It doesn't seem like you need to wake Fox. He told us to stay up until two. We're the only ones who went to check things out,” I said.

Leon walked in front of me as a guide. It's only fitting that he was so long ago. He chose a place far away from where we camped. “So I saw the light from here, maybe the direction came from there,” he said pointing to a place not too far away. We walked to where he showed us, but there was no one.

It was open, not too many trees. Then I saw something on the ground. I crouched down, and found some cigarette butts that were still warm.

I stood up to show it to Leon. But he was standing some distance ahead of me staring at something. “Maya,” he said while looking at me. “You won't believe this.”

Acres of plants as tall as corn plants are neatly lined up. Leon and I looked at each other, looking for understanding. I showed him the cigarette I had picked up.

And I know that he came to the same conclusion as me. We found a marijuana field.

“What in Brazil marijuana is legal?” I asked Leon. If it's legal, there's nothing to worry about. But if it's illegal, we have to hurry.

“I know, in Colombia and Mexico small-scale marijuana cultivation is legal. But in Brazil it is still illegal. Moreover, his fields were this vast and were hidden within the forest. We all got sleepy. We better go quietly before anyone sees,” invite Leon to me. I nodded in agreement.

Just a few steps began to walk, our steps were held back by two men who looked creepy. One of them is big and the other is short.

The guy who was a little shorter than me was talking to us. “You've seen it, huh?” he asked with a threatening tone. I think it's more dangerous than the big high.

Leon and I did not answer that question, which seemed to be interpreted by the short man as ‘ya’. I just stood there while my brain was working hard to find a way out of this situation. I'm sure Leon is thinking the same thing.

I'm pretty confident I can beat that short guy, unless he's armed.

Seeing that we were silent, the tall man pointed his flashlight at Leon, then at me. “It looks like they're not forest police, just hikers. This woman looks like an Asian tourist. Do we do the usual procedures? ” ask his friend.

“Can't you shut up? You talk too much,” said the ferocious short.

He looked at me and Leon one by one. I'm guessing the usual procedure that the big height said must not be fun for me and Leon. The short guy seemed to feel my anxiety, as he smiled smirked at me. I feel like it's a bad sign.

Leon also seemed to sense danger. I felt him moving in front of me in a protective pose. Seeing that the short one deliberately showed the short barrel weapon he had stored under his shirt.

I know a little provocation will cause bloodshed. So I decided to diplomacy.

“Well, we found your stuff that fell,” I said as easily as possible with Portuguese I deliberately did not fluent. I took two steps forward, right in front of the two creepy men. Leon might be looking at me in disbelief. But later he will understand what to do.

The tall one seemed to believe in my innocence and relaxed a little, but the short one remained vigilant. Then I intentionally approached him. “This is yours, right?” I said to the short guy.

And that's the time. When the short looked down at the marijuana cigarette I was holding, I clenched my hand and punched the man's nose with all my might.

***